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Have you ever been talked into something? Well, I certainly was talked into writing my second book: Without Reservations: How a Family Root Beer Stand Grew into a Global Hotel Company. It was 16 years ago when I published Spirit to Serve. A lot has happened since then, and that’s why I took on this assignment.

I say in the book’s introduction that “for 60 years, I have loved my job, WITHOUT RESERVATIONS.” I write candidly about what it took to reach the top – the crises, the opportunities, the make-or-break moments that tested all of us. Our company has been challenged in so many ways. There was the tragic loss of a hotel and some staff at the World Trade Center on 9/11; we’re still coming out of the Great Recession; and at times, we were outflanked by our competitors and had to play catch-up.

Many lessons have been learned along the way, but what has kept Marriott on the move is its five simple rules. I named a section of the book for each one of those core values.

I like to read a book if it has a good story. In writing Without Reservations, I want to take the reader behind-the-scenes into key meetings as major events were unfolding. There’s a very tense story about our Cairo Marriott associates defending the hotel during the Arab Spring and some funny anecdotes on competing for customer business.

Whether you work for a global company like Marriott or you’re in a small business, I hope you will come away with a new ingredient or two that can help you add to your recipe for success. As I recently told my daughter, Debbie, when we drove by the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA, our second hotel, “I am blown away” by our humble beginnings and where we are today.

Marriott is a great American story, and I hope you enjoy reading Without Reservations: How a Family Root Beer Stand Grew Into A Global Hotel Company. I’ve dedicated the book to my wife and family, and every Marriott associate, past, present and around the world. They have all played a part in building the company into what it is today.

The profits earned from this book will benefit two organizations that are very close to my heart: Bridges…from school to work® and Youth Career Initiative. Both are providing opportunities for disadvantaged young people to build employment skills and then help them find a job.

I’m Bill Marriott and thanks for helping me keep Marriott on the Move.

To purchase your personal copy of Without Reservations, How a Family Root Beer Stand Grew Into A Global Hotel Company, visit www.marriott.com/withoutreservations to download an eBook. Hard backs will be out in a few months.

My name is Shirley, I am 25 years old and i ended up in your blog because my boyfriend works for Springhill Suites Marriott Vaughan in Toronto Canada. He wanted me to read your blog because he said i will learn a lot of things from you. Every single time that we will visit any Marriott hotel and we will see your picture, he will get all excited and say nice things about you. How you build this empire and how you take care of the people who works for you. My boyfriend also started from the beginning. Being a houseman when he was 19 and now a front desk supervisor. Not really quite there yet but he's progressing and still working to be somebody someday. His end goal would be owning one Marriott hotel someday, and I hope that he would strive hard to do it WITHOUT RESERVATION. You really inspire a lot of people sir. I do not know you personally but I think that your vision with your company is truly outstanding that is why you have a successful business. You have people around you that cares about your company because you take care of them too. I hope that one day I will meet you. Thank you once again sir.

I heard your BBC World News interview today where you mentioned the hotel in Poland. Any chance that there is another opportunity for untrained U.S. workers to be shaped into employees that make a(nother) European location great?

Hello I have been working for the company 16 years. I start as a waitress in Detroit Airport Courtyard. I love this company and would like to ask. Is there program that we as associates can take or pay for to show us step be step how to become a owner of a marriott hotel. Thank You for all the great years!

I, for one, am very happy that you were talked into writing your second book. If anyone reading this has not read the book, I strongly suggest that you do. "Without Reservations" is a great read for anyone that has the dream!

I was delighted to be sent one of the e-books yesterday and within hours I had read half of the book. I love it. You are such an inspirational leader and I am so very proud to be part of the Marriott extended family of associates around the world.
As a DHR it is my job to promote what a fantastic company we have to new talent joining the company. I can hand on heart say it is my absolute pleasure.

I was delighted to be sent one of the e-books yesterday and within hours I had read half of the book. I love it. You are such an inspirational leader and I am so very proud to be part of the Marriott extended family of associates around the world.
As a DHR it is my job to promote what a fantastic company we have to new talent joining the company. I can hand on heart say it is my absolute pleasure.

I asked to speak to the Entrepreneur Classes at Central Michigan University yesterday and I discussed my 27 years with Marriott and Bill Marriott as a positive role model. As the students introduced themselves, one young man stated he was working at the Fairfield Inn as a night auditor. "What skills are you adding to your resume?" I asked. He responded, "being a team player, exceeding customer expectations, and continuous improvement".